Peters



(ModeL) w. STODDARD.

CAN OPENER. No. 266,398. Patented Oct; 24, 1882..

INVENYTOR Wa, Jfidma ATTORNEYS.

Nv PETERS, Pholmmhcgmpllcr. Washinglon. n. c

1 NrrED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM A. STODDARD, OF DALLAS, OREGON.

CAN-OPENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 266,398, dated October24, 1832.

Application filed June 23. 1882. (ModeL) To all whom it may concern Beit known that I, "WILLIAM A. STODDARD,

' of Dallas, in the county of Polk and State of Oregon, have invented anew and Improved (Jan-Opener, of which the following is a full, clear,and exact description.

The object .of my" invention is to facilitate the opening of tin cans.

The invention consists in a can-opener constructed with two levers, of'which the upper one carries knives and the lower one a plate forreceiving the can, which levers are so connected that when the upper oneis depressed the lower one will be raised, and the knives will be forcedinto the upper end of the can and will cut the same out.

The invention further consists in certain details in the constructionand combination of parts, substantially as hereinafter more fully setforth.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part ofthis specification, in which similar letters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal elevation of my improved can-opener. Fig. 2is a front end elevation of the same. Fig.3 is a view of the inner sideof one of the blades or knives. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal centralsectional view of the same.

A lever, A, is pivoted at one end to two parallel standards, B, restingon and secured to a base, 0, and to the free end of this lever A a headis attached, which is surrounded by a sleeve, D, between which and thehead the upper ends of the semicircular knives E are passed, theseknives being held in place by set-screws F, passing through apertures inthe sleeve and resting against the knives. The outer ends of the screwsF project from the sleeve, as shown, and serve as checks to pre-- ventforcing the knives toofar into the can. A disk, Gr, provided with ahandle, H, is pivoted eccentrically and above the head of the lever A toprojections or arms J of the frames B. A lever, K, is pivoted to thebottom of the framesB, below the pivot of the lever A, and to the freeend of this lever K a can-receiving plate, L, is attached. A shortlever, M, is pivoted to the front ends of the frames B, and the rear endof this lever is connected by means of a link-piece, N, with the leverA, and the front end of this lever M is connected by means of a pivotedlink, 0, with the lever K.

A spring, P, is attached to the upper edge of the lever K and restsagainst the lower edge of the lever M, at the front end of the same. Theknives E have the greatest height at the middle, and the edges arecurved from the ends toward the middle, a point, 6, being formed at themiddle of each knife, as shown. The spring Wis attached to the innersurface of one of the knives E in such a manner that the upper end willbe free. When the blades or knives have been forced through the top ofthe can this spring will catch on that part of the top which has beencut out and will lift the same from the can.

The operation is as follows: The can to be opened is placed in anupright position on the plate L, directly below the knives. Bydepressing the handle-lever H the head end carrying the knives of thelever A will be forced downward, the plate L will be raised, and,

finally, the knives E are forced into the head of the can and cut outthis head. As soon as the handle-lever H is released the spring P raisesthe leverA and lowers the lever K. The knives E can easily be removed incase they are to be sharpened.

It will be understood that I make no claim to the cylindric knives, withtheir lower edges tapered or inclined rearwardly upon each side of apiercing-point, nor to a projection secured to the inside of each knifeabove its piercingpoint to lift the cut-out part of the can-top.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent- 1. A can-opener, constructed substantially asherein shown and described, with a lever I carrying knives, a levercarrying a can-receiving plate, and levers for connecting these twolevers, and adapted to cause the elevation of the can-carryin g lever asthe knife-carrying lever is depressed, as set forth.

2. In a can-opener, the combination, with the frames B,ot' the lever A,theknives E, the le ver K, the plate L, the lever M, the links N and O,the spring P, the eccentrically-pivoted disk G, and the handle-lever H,substantially as herein shown and described, and for the purpose setforth.

. WILLIAM A. STODDARD.

Witnesses:

JOHN E. MILLER, JOHN B. SMITH.

